Anderson's return vital as Swann is forced to head home

Swann will fly home today after he was ruled out for the rest of the seven-match one-day international series, which England trail 3-0, due to a lower back strain.

The 31-year-old will be the second England bowler to leave the tour in the space of three days after a calf injury ended Tim Bresnan's involvement in the series.

While both are expected to recover in time for England's World Cup opener against Holland on February 22, they are set to go into the tournament short on game time.

Swann's next match will not be until the group stages as he will not fly to the sub-continent until the eve of the tournament to stay with his pregnant wife. Yorkshire's Bresnan will also face a race against time to take part in the warm-up games against Canada and Pakistan on February 16 and 18.

Those matches are also likely to be the first time Stuart Broad bowls competitively for more than two months as he continues his recovery from a stomach injury suffered during the Ashes.

The right-armer rejoined the squad in Australia at the weekend but has been restricted to gentle bowling in the nets and will not play in the current series. That means James Anderson will be the only front-liner available in the remaining four matches against Australia.

Anderson was set to return to action in today's fourth one-day international in Adelaide following his three-week break after the Ashes – a rest period that has proved invaluable given the current injury crisis.

It is a situation to concern team director Andy Flower who, after being without Swann in the previous two games, decided to send him home to allow him to prepare for a sub-continental World Cup where the world's top-ranked spinner is set to play a significant role.

Sarah Elliott hit an unbeaten 81 to guide Australia's women to a seven-wicket win over England in their one-off Ashes Test in Sydney.

Elliott and Alex Blackwell (74) shared a third-wicket stand of 125 as Australia, chasing 198 for victory, reached their target for the loss of three wickets to win back the Ashes after England's success in 2005.

England, who made 207 in their first innings, were dismissed for 149 on the third day paving the way for Australia, who only managed 159 in their first innings, to force a day four win after resuming on 2-1.

England captain Charlotte Edwards said: "Our bowlers did a fantastic job but unfortunately we didn't put enough runs on the board."